*■ 


THE 

MISSIONARY  DEPARTMENT 
OF  THE  STUDENT  ||lf| 
YOUNG  MEN’S 
CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION 


The  Missionary  Department  of 
the  Student  Young  Men’s 
Christian  Association 


JOHN  R.  MOTT 


Third  Revision,  Fourteenth  Thousand 


New  York 

Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  Press 


1908 


Copyright  1901 

BY 

The  International  Committee 
of  Young  Men’s  Christian  Associations 


3561 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

I.  Why  Should  the  Student  Association  Pro¬ 
mote  the  Cause  of  Missions? .  5 

II.  The  Organization  of  the  Missionary  Depart¬ 

ment  of  the  Association .  8 

1.  The  Missionary  Committee .  8 

2.  The  Volunteer  Band .  10 

III.  Means  Employed  by  the  Associations  to  Pro¬ 

mote  Missions .  12 

1.  The  Missionary  Meeting .  12 

2.  Mission  Study  Classes .  16 

3.  The  Missionary  Library .  19 

4.  Financial  Cooperation  with  Missions  .  .  25 

5.  Prayer  for  Missions .  28 


The  Missionary  Department  of 
the  Student  Young  Men’s 
Christian  Association 


I.  Why  Should  the  Student  Association 
Promote  the  Cause  of  Missions? 

In  addition  to  the  considerations  which  should 
awaken  an  active  missionary  interest  in  city,  home, 
and  foreign  missions  among  all  Christians,  there 
are  reasons  which  should  influence  with  peculiar 
power  the  members  of  the  Student  Young  Men’s 
Christian  Associations. 

1.  As  Dr.  John  Hall  has  said,  “Missions  should 
constitute  the  business  of  the  Church.’’  The  As¬ 
sociations,  therefore,  as  a  part  of  the  Church, 
should  place  themselves  in  line  with  her  greatest 
work.  Moreover,  the  Student  Associations  are  to 
furnish  most  of  the  leaders  of  the  Church.  Mani¬ 
festly,  therefore,  the  members  should  be  profound¬ 
ly  concerned  in  that  which  constitutes  the  largest 
part  of  the  work  of  the  Church  which  they  are 
to  lead. 

2.  The  express  purpose  of  the  Association 
movement,  of  which  the  Student  Associations  form 
a  department,  demands  that  they  promote  the 
cause  of  missions.  Recall  the  words  of  the  Paris 
basis,  which  unites  the  Associations  of  the  world: 
“The  Young  Men’s  Christian  Associations  seek  to 
unite  those  young  men,  who,  regarding  J esus  Christ 
as  their  God  and  Saviour,  according  to  the  Holy 


5 


Scriptures,  desire  to  be  His  disciples  in  their  doc¬ 
trine  and  in  their  life,  and  to  associate  their  efforts 
for  the  extension  of  His  kingdom  among  young 
men.” 

Would  the  most  literal  interpreter  limit  the  ap¬ 
plication  of  this  purpose  to  the  young  men  of 
Christian  lands  alone?  No ;  the  all-embracing  pur¬ 
pose  of  the  Associations  comprehends  the  two 
hundred  millions  of  young  men  of  mission  lands, 
as  well  as  the  great  number  still  unreached  in 
Christian  countries.  Unless  the  Associations  are 
true  to  this  purpose  great  multitudes  of  young- 
men  will  never  know  Jesus  Christ. 

3.  The  Association  owes  it  to  its  members  to 
bring  them  into  intelligent  touch  with  the  cause  of 
missions.  The  Association  teaches  the  Bible;  it 
should  not  forget  that  missions  constitute  the  cen¬ 
tral  theme  of  the  Bible.  The  Association  exalts 
Christ;  in  doing  so  it  should  bear  in  mind  that 
“He  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins,  and  not  for 
ours  only,  but  also  for  the  whole  world.”  The 
Association  should  desire  the  best  things  for  its 
young  men.  There  is  no  subject  more  elevating, 
more  broadening,  more  deepening,  more  quicken¬ 
ing  than  the  extension  of  the  kingdom  of  God 
among  men.  Moreover,  if  young  men  are  to 
understand  their  generation  and  discharge  their 
responsibility  to  the  world,  they  must  be  kept 
in  intelligent  touch  with  the  great  missionary 
movement. 

4.  The  fact  that  the  large  majority  of  the  mis¬ 
sionary  leaders  of  the  Church  have  been  students 
should  stimulate  the  missionary  zeal  and  spirit  of 
college  men  to-day.  Not  to  mention  the  home 
leaders,  what  inspiration  is  afforded  by  the  names 
of  less  than  a  score  of  the  thousands  of  student 
foreign  missionaries — Paul,  Apollos,  Patrick,  Col- 
umba,  Boniface,  Lull,  Duff,  Martyn,  Wilson,  Liv¬ 
ingstone,  Hannington,  Mackay,  Patteson,  Paton, 
Eliot,  Brainerd,  Judson,  Goodell  and  Falconer.  In 
particular,  Association  members  should  never  for¬ 
get  that  the  great  American  foreign  missionary 


movement  was  conceived  by  students,*  and  that 
it  has  assumed  its  wonderful  development  almost 
entirely  under  the  leadership  of  students. 

5.  The  Church  leaders,  both  at  home  and 
abroad,  are  looking  to  the  students  of  the  United 
States,  Canada,  Great  Britain  and  other  Christian 
lands  in  this  generation  of  tremendous  crisis. 
The  expectation  appears  both  in  their  personal 
and  official  appeals  for  workers.  It  is  implied, 
moreover,  in  the  very  requirements  imposed  upon 
candidates  by  the  missionary  and  other  religious 
societies.  Remember  also  the  words  of  Josiah 
Strong,  “I  believe  it  is  fully  in  the  hands  of  the 
Christians  of  the  United  States  during  the  next 
fifteen  or  twenty  years  to  hasten  or  retard  the 
coming  of  Christ’s  kingdom  in  the  world  by  hun¬ 
dreds,  and  perhaps  thousands,  of  years.”  Then 
reflect  that  so  far  as  both  the  United  States  and 
Canada  are  concerned  the  large  majority  of  the 
missionaries  and  ministers  of  all  denominations 
must  come  from  the  ranks  of  the  Student  Asso¬ 
ciations.  Can  the  Association  escape  a  sense  of 
special  responsibility? 

6.  The  life  and  power  of  the  Association  de¬ 
pend  upon  its  loyalty  to  the  world-wide  purpose 
of  the  mission  of  Jesus  Christ.  Without  argu¬ 
ment  and  comment,  it  need  only  be  stated  that  the 

*Mr.  L.  D.  Wishard,  the  first  student  secretary,  who 
also  introduced  the  missionary  department  into  the 
college  Associations,  has  discovered  a  most  interesting 
chain  of  facts  connecting  the  first  American  student 
missionary  uprising  with  the  College  Association  move¬ 
ment  of  to-day.  Briefly  stated  those  links  are:  (l)  Awaken¬ 
ing  of  missionary  interest  at  Williams,  Andover,  and 
other  institutions  under  the  leadership  of  students  like 
Mills,  Richards,  Judson  and  Nott.  (2)  Publication  of  an 
appeal  written  by  one  of  the  students  who  went  out  to 
the  foreign  field  under  the  influence  of  this  missionary 
revival.  (3)  Dr.  John  Scudder  led  by  this  appeal  to  become 
a  medical  missionary.  (4)  A  young  man  influenced,  by 
the  sailing  of  Scudder  to  India,  to  devote  his  life  to  Chris¬ 
tian  work.  (5)  This  young  man,  James  Brainerd  Taylor, 
entered  Princeton  College,  and  there  formed  the  Phila¬ 
delphian  society.  (6)  The  Philadelphian  society  took  the 
lead  in  inaugurating  the  Student  Young  Men’s  Christian 
Association  movement. 


7 


most  philanthropic,  evangelistic,  spiritual,  and 
fruitful  Associations  are  those  in  which  the  mis¬ 
sionary  spirit  most  abounds. 


II.  The  Organization  of  the  Missionary  Depart¬ 
ment  of  the  Association. 

1.  The  Missionary  Committee. 

The  missionary  work  of  the  Association  should 
be  under  the  direction  of  a  missionary  committee. 
The  committee  should  be  large  enough  to  carry  on 
properly  the  work  of  the  missionary  department. 

(1)  In  making  up  this  committee  care  should 
be  taken  to  select  students  having  these  qualifica¬ 
tions  : — 

(а)  They  should  have  an  active  interest  in  city, 
home  and  foreign  missions. 

(б)  They  should  be  students  of  missions.  The 
importance  of  this  cannot  be  exaggerated. 

(c)  Some  of  their  number  should,  if  practicable, 
be  students  who  expect  to  devote  their  lives  to 
missionary  work,  including  the  leader  of  the 
Volunteer  Band.  It  is  not  well,  however,  to  have 
the  committee  composed  entirely,  or  even  chiefly, 
of  this  class,  provided  qualified  members  other 
than  they  can  be  secured. 

( d )  They  should  be  influential  and  representa¬ 
tive  men,  in  order  that  students  who  are  not  inter¬ 
ested  in  missions  may  be  drawn  into  this  depart¬ 
ment  of  work. 

(e  )  They  should  be  thorough  students  in  order 
that  the  work  of  this  department  may  be  of  a  high 
standard. 

If  it  is  impossible  to  find  students  having  these 
qualifications,  the  next  best  thing  is  to  select 
earnest  Christian  men  who  are  willing  to  prepare 
themselves  by  special  study  for  carrying  on  this 
department,  and  willing  to  give  the  necessary 
time  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  the  work. 

If  there  is  a  Young  Woman’s  Christian  Associa¬ 
tion  in  the  institution,  it  may  be  found  advisable 


8 


for  the  missionary  committees  of  both  Associa¬ 
tions  to  cooperate  at  times  in  order  to  promote 
phases  of  missionary  work  which  can  be  advanced 
better  by  combined  effort;  for  example,  the  rais¬ 
ing  of  the  fund  for  the  support  of  a  college 
missionary. 

(2)  The  work  .of  the  missionary  committee 
may  be  outlined  in  brief  as  follows : — 

(а)  To  diffuse  general  missionary  information 
throughout  the  college. 

(б)  To  promote  a  more  careful  and  systematic 
study  of  missions  by  as  many  students  as  possible; 
and,  to  this  end,  to  organize  and  foster  mission 
study  classes  among  the  students.  This  involves 
the  wise  selection  of  leaders  and  the  constant 
supervision  of  the  classes  throughout  the  year. 

(c)  To  see  that  the  institution  is  well  supplied 
with  missionary  literature  (both  books  and  peri¬ 
odicals),  and  that  such  literature  is  wisely  used. 

( d )  To  help  in  the  formation  of  right  habits  of 
giving  to  missions. 

(e)  To  promote  prayer  for  missions. 

(/)  To  influence  students  to  a  thorough  con¬ 
sideration  of  the  claims  of  missions  upon  them  as 
a  life-work,  and  to  cooperate  in  promoting  the 
work  of  the  Volunteer  Band.  See  pamphlet, 
“The  Volunteer  Band.” 

( g )  To  lead  students  who  are  not  to  be  mission¬ 
aries  to  recognize  that  they  are,  nevertheless, 
equally  responsible  for  making  their  lives  tell  in 
furthering  the  missionary  enterprise. 

( h )  To  arrange,  on  consultation  with  the  presi¬ 
dent  of  the  Association,  for  the  visit  of  a  traveling 
secretary  of  the  Student  Volunteer  Movement. 

Suggestions  are  given  in  detail  under  the  third 
main  division  of  this  pamphlet  as  to  how  to  carry 
out  these  lines  of  work  (pages  12-29). 

(3)  The  work  of  the  committee  might  be  di¬ 
vided  among  its  members  so  that  one  man  would 
be  responsible  for  promoting  the  study  of  missions, 
one  for  adding  to  the  collection  of  missionary  liter¬ 
ature  and  for  facilitating  its  use,  one  for  stimulating 


9 


giving  to  missions,  one  ( the  leader  of  the 
Volunteer  Band  or  some  leading  volunteer)  for 
securing  volunteers  for  missions,  and  one  for  pro¬ 
moting  prayer  for  missions. 

(4)  To  grapple  with  their  work  intelligently 
and  successfully,  it  is  imperative  that  the  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  committee  secure  special  preparation. 
It  is  suggested,  in  the  first  place,  that  they  care¬ 
fully  read  this  pamphlet.  They  should  then 
review  what  has  been  done  for  missions  in  their 
institution  during  the  previous  years — especially 
by  the  Association.  Let  them  examine  carefully 
the  pamphlets  of  the  Student  Volunteer  Move¬ 
ment.  Let  them  review  the  file  of  The  Intercol¬ 
legian,  especially  the  articles  and  departments 
bearing  on  methods,  meetings  and  studies.  They 
should  read  without  fail  the  report  of  the  most 
recent  International  Convention  of  the  Student 
Volunteer  Movement.  Let  each  one  read  from 
month  to  month  The  Intercollegian,  Foreign  Mail, 
The  Student  World,  The  Missionary  Review  of  the 
World,  and  the  missionary  periodical  of  his  own  de¬ 
nomination.  In  addition  to  this,  the  members  of 
the  committee  should  be  moving  spirits  in  the  mis¬ 
sion  study  class.  During  vacation  each  member 
should  read  at  least  two  or  three  inspiring  mission¬ 
ary  books.  The  chairman  of  the  committee  should 
make  it  a  special  point  to  go  to  one  of  the  Student 
summer  conferences,  at  which  he  should  focus  his 
attention  upon  the  missionary  features,  and  should 
also  attend  the  convention  of  the  Student  Volun¬ 
teer  Movement  in  case  it  is  held  during  his  term 
of  office.  It  is  not  necessary  to  add  that  the  com¬ 
mittee  should  hold  regular  and  frequent  meetings, 
preferably  monthly,  to  plan  and  pray  for  their 
work.  Careful  minutes  should  be  kept  of  all 
such  meetings. 

2.  The  Volunteer  Band. 

The  Volunteer  Band  is  an  organized  group  of 
students  who  have  indicated  their  purpose  to 
become  foreign  missionaries.  Its  composition  and 


10 


work  are  fully  treated  in  the  pamphlet,  “The 
Volunteer  Band.” 

In  some  colleges  there  are  regular  volunteer 
bands  or  foreign  missionary  societies  entirely  inde¬ 
pendent  of  the  Association.  Even  in  some  insti¬ 
tutions  where  the  two  are  nominally  united,  there 
is  a  tendency  on  the  part  of  those  most  deeply 
interested  in  missions  to  segregate  themselves, 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  a  tendency  on  the  part 
of  those  not  especially  interested  in  missions  to 
delegate  all  responsibility  for  this  important  de¬ 
partment  to  those  who  are  thus  interested.  Each 
of  these  tendencies  should  be  strongly  discouraged. 
Moreover,  independent  bands  and  societies  should 
be  urged  to  merge  themselves  into  the  missionary 
department  of  the  Association. 

(1)  There  are  marked  advantages  in  having 
the  Volunteer  Band  become,  not  only  nominally, 
but  also  actually  and  organically,  a  part  of  the 
Association. 

a.  Advantages  to  the  Association : — 

(а)  The  members  of  the  independent  band  or 
society  would  greatly  strengthen  the  missionary 
department  of  the  Association,  because  of  their 
special  interest,  knowledge  and  training. 

(б)  They  would  strengthen  also  all  other  de¬ 
partments  of  the  Association  by  thus  throwing 
themselves  more  intimately  into  its  work. 

(c)  They  would  promote  the  Association  move¬ 
ment  in  foreign  lands  much  more  effectively  if 
brought  into  close  relation  to  it  at  home. 

b.  Advantages  to  the  independent  band  or 
society : — 

(a)  It  would  become  allied  to  an  organization 
more  nearly  permanent,  because  of  the  varied 
character  of  the  work  of  that  organization  and  its 
much  larger  membership.  If  all  those  who  are 
especially  interested  in  missions  should  leave  the 
college,  the  Association  would  be  in  duty  bound 
to  care  for  the  missionary  work,  as  much  as  for  the 
the  work  in  the  interest  of  new  students,  Bible 
study,  or  any  other  department. 


11 


(6)  It  would  have  the  use  of  the  Association 
organization,  and  through  the  Association  would 
have  helpful  relations  with  the  missionary  work  of 
all  the  colleges  of  the  United  States  and  Canada. 

(c)  It  would  have  a  much  wider  field  for  work 
and  influence. 

( d )  It  would  have  a  more  fertile  field  in  which 
to  work.  Bible  study,  personal  work,  neighbor¬ 
hood  work  prepare  men  for  the  reception  of  mis¬ 
sionary  ideas.  See  pamphlet,  “The  Volunteer 
Band,”  for  further  reasons. 

c.  That  the  lines  of  advantage  here  indicated 
are  not  theoretical  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  dur¬ 
ing  the  last  few  years  nearly  all  the  independent 
volunteer  bands  and  missionary  societies  have  be¬ 
come  organic  parts  of  the  Association  and  in  not 
a  single  instance  has  there  been  a  return  to  the 
original  plan. 

(2)  The  Volunteer  Band  may  become  and  re¬ 
main  an  organic  part  of  the  Association  by  merg¬ 
ing  itself  into  the  Association.  The  president  of 
the  Association  should  then  arrange  to  have  the 
leader  of  the  Band  placed  on  the  missionary  com¬ 
mittee  of  the  Association,  unless  he  is  obviously 
unqualified.  The  Band  will  remain  an  organic 
part  of  the  Association. 

(а)  By  electing  its  leader,  subject  to  the  ratifi¬ 
cation  of  the  president  of  the  Association. 

(б)  By  reporting  officially  to  the  missionary 
committee,  and  thus  to  the  Association,  the  work 
done  each  year. 

( c )  By  cooperating  with  the  missionary  com¬ 
mittee  in  pushing  aggressive  lines  of  missionary 
work  in  the  institution. 

III.  Means  Employed  by  the  Associations  to 
Promote  Missions. 

1.  The  Missionary  Meeting. 

(1)  Time. 

At  least  once  each  month  the  Association  should 


12 


hold  a  missionary  meeting,  provided  it  be  made 
strong.  This  should  not  be  placed  at  a  special 
time,  but  should  come  in  the  regular  series  of 
weekly  meetings.  A  majority  of  the  missionary 
meetings  should  ordinarily  be  devoted  to  foreign 
missions.  The  reasons  for  this  are  that  the  foreign 
field  is  a  far  wider  one  to  cover,  that  it  is  a  much 
needier  field,  and  that,  as  a  rule,  people  are  more 
ignorant  concerning  its  needs  and  claims. 

(2)  Leader  and  participants. 

The  leader  must  be  one  who  is  well  informed, 
or  who  will  make  conscientious  efforts  to  become 
thoroughly  informed,  and  who  is  able  to  make  the 
meeting  interesting.  The  participants  will  be 
determined  by  the  leader  and  the  missionary 
committee,  and  by  the  plan  which  they  adopt 
for  the  hour.  For  presenting  foreign  missionary 
topics  which  bear  upon  the  need  for  workers,  or 
calls  from  the  field,  men  who  expect  to  be  mis¬ 
sionaries  should  often  be  selected.  Participation 
in  these  meetings,  however,  should  not  be  limited 
to  such  members.  It  is  sometimes  well  to  have 
some  strong  student  who  has  not  been  actively 
interested  in  missions  study  and  present  some 
part  of  the  topic,  although  the  responsibility  for 
the  leadership  of  the  meeting  should  hardly  be 
placed  upon  him.  This  plan  has  been  the  means 
of  enlisting  some  who  have  become  ardent  sup¬ 
porters  of  foreign  missions.  A  similar  plan  may 
be  employed  in  connection  with  home  missionary 
topics.  Every  member  should  be  led  to  feel  a 
responsibility  for  the  world-wide  field.  Possibly 
not  less  than  one  half  of  the  meetings  should  be 
conducted  by  the  students.  From  time  to  time, 
however,  missionaries  who  speak  interestingly  and 
impressively,  pastors  filled  with  the  missionary 
spirit,  professors  who  are  authorities  on  certain 
aspects  of  missions,  or  who  are  deeply  interested 
in  the  subject,  secretaries  of  missionary  societies, 
representatives  of  the  Student  Volunteer  Move¬ 
ment  and  Association  secretaries,  should  be 
secured  for  addresses. 


13 


(3)  Preparation. 

The  secret  of  the  success  of  a  missionary  meet¬ 
ing  lies  chiefly  in  thorough  and  prayerful  prepara¬ 
tion.  The  committee,  therefore,  should  appoint 
the  leader,  assign  the  topic  and  plan  its  method 
of  treatment  fully  one  month  in  advance.  The 
leader  and  committee  should  cooperate  con-  - 
stantly,  and  see  that  the  best  plans  possible  are 
laid  and  carried  out.  In  case  the  topic  is  divided 
among  several  speakers,  there  should  be  a  con¬ 
ference  two  or  three  days  before  the  missionary 
meeting  of  those  who  are  to  participate  and  the 
chairman  of  the  committee. 

(4)  Topics. 

The  topics  for  the  missionary  meetings  of  the 
year  should  be  determined  by  the  missionary 
committee.  They  will  know  best  what  subjects 
will  be  most  helpful  in  promoting  the  work  of  the 
missionary  department.  The  topics  should  not  be 
determined  without  very  careful  consideration. 

Many  Associations  find  it  most  satisfactory  to 
make  out  topics  for  the  student  year  in  advance, 
subject  to  modification  when  necessary  or  desira¬ 
ble.  It  may  be  deemed  advisable  to  change  a 
topic  occasionally,  owing  to  some  special  develop¬ 
ment,  or  to  some  unexpected  opportunity  which 
presents  itself.  To  guide  committees  in  choosing 
topics  and  in  securing  their  best  treatment  there 
has  been  maintained  in  The  Intercollegian  for 
several  years  a  regular  department  devoted  to  the 
monthly  missionary  meeting.  The  committee 
should  therefore  examine,  so  far  as  possible,  the 
files  of  this  paper  before  making  up  the  list  of 
topics  for  the  year.  Or  they  may  prefer  to  take 
the  topics  treated  in  current  numbers  of  this  peri¬ 
odical  as  they  appear. 

(5)  Accessory  features. 

In  addition  to  the  regular  presentation  of  the 
topic  by  one  or  more  persons,  a  number  of  features 
may  be  introduced  which  will  add  to  the  interest 
and  abiding  influence  of  the  meeting. 

(a)  Maps.  As  soon  as  possible  each  Association 


14 


should  own  and  have  on  the  walls  of  the  meeting1 
room  Colton’s  missionary  map  of  the  world. 
Besides  this,  in  a  denominational  college,  the 
Association  may  wish  to  exhibit  maps  showing 
the  mission  stations  of  that  particular  denomina¬ 
tion.  Special  maps  also  may  be  prepared  with 
comparatively  little  work.  For  example,  a  map 
showing  the  location  of  former  students  of  the 
college  now  on  mission  fields,  or  a  map  showing 
the  location  of  the  foreign  secretaries  of  the 
Association  movement. 

(6)  Carefully  prepared  charts,  either  on  paper 
or  blackboard,  or  photographs,  will  often  add 
greatly  to  the  vividness  of  the  presentation  of 
the  topic.* 

(c)  A  few  minutes  of  the  time  at  each  meeting 
might  be  profitably  spent  in  the  presentation  of 
recent  missionary  facts  taken  from  the  current 
numbers  of  periodicals.  These  facts  should  be 
most  carefully  selected  and  concisely  stated.  If 
not  overdone  this  is  calculated  to  quicken  interest 
and  stimulate  reading  on  missions. 

(d)  The  tie  between  the  college  and  the  mis¬ 
sionary  fields  will  be  strengthened  if  there  be 
read,  now  and  then,  brief  and  striking  extracts 
from  the  correspondence  of  former  students  who 
are  now  engaged  in  missionary  work.  Too  much 
time  should  not  be  taken  up  by  such  reading, 
and  care  should  be  taken  to  have  it  done  by  some 
one  who  can  read  well.  These  letters  might  be 
kept  on  file. 

(0)  When  a  prominent  missionary,  or  some 
other  specialist  on  missions,  visits  the  Association, 
reserve  a  few  minutes  at  the  close  of  the  hour,  or 
at  an  after  meeting,  for  him  to  conduct  a  question 
drawer. 

(/)  It  will  repay  the  committee  to  bestow 
special  effort  upon  securing  appropriate  missionary 


*For  valuable  hints  on  making  maps  and  charts  see  The 
Student  Volunteer  for  March  and  April,  1893,  1894  and 
1895;  also  Hixson’s  Missions  in  the  Sunday  School, 

ch.  VII. 


15 


hymns.  Suggestions  on  this  subject  may  be 
obtained  by  writing  to  the  Student  Volunteer 
Movement. 

(ff)  The  importance  of  making  prayer  a  regular 
feature  of  the  meeting,  particularly  a  closing  sea¬ 
son,  cannot  be  overemphasized.  Let  the  prayers 
be  brief,  definite  and  earnest.  It  is  well  to  sug¬ 
gest  objects  for  prayer;  for  example,  some  particu¬ 
lar  field,  or  missionary,  or  organization.  Special 
prayer  should  be  offered  on  behalf  of  graduates 
of  the  college  who  are  engaged  in  missionary  work. 

2.  Mission  Study  Classes. 

The  regular  missionary  meetings  of  the  Asso¬ 
ciation  are  calculated  primarily  to  diffuse  general 
intelligence  concerning  missions.  The  reading  of 
the  literature  found  in  the  library  will  give  one  a 
stronger  grasp  of  the  subject.  But  there  is  need 
in  every  institution,  not  only  of  affording  oppor¬ 
tunities  to  listen  to  the  presentation  of  missions 
and  to  read  on  missions,  but  also  of  stimulating  a 
thorough  and  scientific  study  of  missions. 

(1)  Who  should  study  missions? 

Three  classes  of  students : 

(а)  Men  who  are  planning  to  enter  the  min¬ 
istry  on  the  home  field  should  make  a  careful 
study  of  the  various  aspects  of  city,  home  and 
foreign  missions.  The  success  of  the  foreign  mis¬ 
sionary  enterprise  depends  quite  as  much  upon 
intelligent  and  sympathetic  pastors  of  the  home 
churches  as  upon  the  missionaries  at  the  front. 
It  is  the  duty  of  every  young  man  who  expects  to 
influence  the  missionary  work  and  gifts  and 
prayers  of  a  congregation,  to  make  himself  as 
nearly  as  possible  an  authority  upon  the  subject 
of  missions.  And  it  is,  therefore,  the  duty  of  the 
Association  to  afford  him  facilities  for  equipping 
himself  to  bear  this  responsibility. 

(б)  All  who  expect  to  devote  their  lives  to  for¬ 
eign  missionary  work  should  engage  in  a  special 
study  of  missions.  If  they  give  themselves  to  this 
study  all  through  their  college  days,  they  will  be 


16 


far  better  prepared  for  their  life  work  than  they 
would  be  otherwise.  It  is  a  great  mistake  to  put 
it  off,  with  hope  of  making  it  up  in  the  theologi¬ 
cal  seminary  or  medical  school,  for  often  less 
favorable  opportunities  for  the  study  of  missions 
are  afforded  in  such  institutions.  Even  where 
the  opportunities  are  entirely  satisfactory,  it  would 
be  a  great  advantage  to  the  student  to  have  first 
improved  his  college  opportunities.  He  would 
then  be  in  a  position  to  take  up  much  more  ad¬ 
vanced  missionary  studies  during  his  years  at  the 
theological  seminary  or  medical  school.  It  is  an 
even  greater  mistake  to  defer  such  study  until  one 
reaches  the  foreign  field.  It  is  true  that  some 
questions  can  be  best  investigated  on  the  foreign 
field,  but  a  careful  study  of  missions  as  a  whole 
can  be  carried  on  much  more  successfully  on  the 
home  field  where  one  has  more  time  and  access  to 
a  wider  range  of  missionary  literature.  More¬ 
over,  a  careful  study  of  home  mission  problems 
will  prove  invaluable  to  one  who  subsequently 
grapples  with  similar  problems  on  the  foreign 
field. 

(c)  A  study  of  missions  should  be  carried  on 
by  students  who  have  not  decided  to  be  either 
missionaries  or  ministers.  Such  students  need  this 
study  to  enable  them  to  decide  intelligently  what 
their  life-work  shall  be.  They  need  it  for  the 
stimulation  of  their  spiritual  life.  They  need  it 
to  broaden  their  horizons.  They  need  it  to  enable 
them  to  understand  current  events.  Moreover, 
they  need  it  to  prepare  them  to  discharge  their 
responsibility  to  the  world  and  the  Church  as 
educated  laymen.  See  the  pamphlets  “Is  Mission 
Study  Worth  While?”  and  “What  is  Involved 
in  Mission  Study?” 

(2)  The  organization  and  conduct  of  mission 
study  classes. 

In  many  of  the  most  successful  Associations  the 
third  regular  meeting  of  the  student  year  is  devot¬ 
ed  to  promoting  mission  study.  One  or  more 
addresses  on  the  importance  of  mission  study  are 


17 


given.  Sometimes  these  are  followed  by  brief 
testimonies  by  influential  students  regarding  the 
value  of  such  work.  The  mission  study  plans  for 
the  year  are  announced  and  an  opportunity  is 
afforded  for  students  to  indicate  their  purpose  to 
join  the  classes.  During  the  few  days  following 
this  meeting  the  missionary  committee  should 
seek  by  personal  canvass  to  influence  students 
who  may  not  have  been  reached  in  the  meeting 
to  decide  to  enter  the  classes.  The  “quick  can¬ 
vass’’  plan  will  be  found  to  have  advantages  in 
many  institutions.  It  will  facilitate  the  work  of 
the  committee  to  circulate,  both  at  the  meeting 
and  in  the  personal  canvass,  some  of  the  Student 
Volunteer  Movement’s  pamphlets  on  the  study 
of  missions. 

A  mission  study  class  should  be  organized  like 
an  Association  Bible  class.  It  should  have  a  regu¬ 
lar  leader.  He  should  either  be  an  advanced 
student,  having  the  qualifications  required  in  a 
leader,  or  a  professor  who  is  deeply  interested  in 
missions  and  in  close  touch  with  the  students. 
There  should  be  a  secretary  to  keep  a  record  of 
attendance  and  of  the  work  outlined  and  accom¬ 
plished.  One  member  of  the  class  might  well  be 
appointed  to  assist  the  leader  in  the  preparation  of 
special  maps  or  charts  for  each  meeting.  This 
may  be  made  a  most  helpful  feature  of  the  class. 
The  number  in  the  class  should  be  limited  ordi¬ 
narily  to  eight  or  ten.  In  most  institutions  there 
will  be  several  classes  organized.  The  number 
and  character  of  the  classes  will  be  determined 
by  the  number  of  students  who  want  to  under¬ 
take  such  work,  and  also  by  their  purposes,  de¬ 
sires  and  previous  study.  In  coeducational  insti¬ 
tutions  the  best  results  have  usually  been  obtained 
by  having  separate  classes  for  men  and  women. 
Where  there  are  two  or  more  classes  it  will  be 
found  desirable  for  the  leaders  to  meet  from  time 
to  time  to  consider  how  to  conduct  the  classes 
most  successfully.  Vrhere  possible  normal  classes 
should  be  conducted. 


18 


The  plan  of  conducting  the  class  should  be  simi¬ 
lar  to  that  employed  in  connection  with  the  best 
Bible  classes.  The  class  leader  should  be  in 
direct  correspondence  with  the  mission  study 
secretary  of  the  Student  Volunteer  Movement. 

In  some  colleges  there  are  missionary  reading 
circles,  designed  for  those  who  do  not  have  time 
to  go  into  a  thorough  study  of  missions.  They 
meet  informally  once  a  week.  Interesting  por¬ 
tions  of  books  are  read,  and  the  rest  of  the  hour 
is  devoted  to  discussion  and  conversation. 

(3)  Courses  of  study. 

The  courses  of  study  for  the  classes  should  cover 
such  ground  as  the  principles  underlying  mis¬ 
sions,  the  history  of  missions,  the  results  and 
influence  of  missions,  the  missionary  fields, 
missionary  problems,  missionary  methods,  prepa¬ 
ration  for  missionary  work,  the  lives  of  mission¬ 
aries.  The  courses  of  study  prepared  by  the 
Student  Volunteer  Movement  for  such  classes 
are  especially  recommended.  See  the  Mission 
Study  Prospectus  issued  yearly  by  the  Movement. 

(4)  Leadership. 

Leaders  should  be  appointed  well  in  advance 
and  should  be  most  carefully  chosen.  They 
should  be  sent,  if  possible,  to  the  student  confer¬ 
ence.  They  should  secure  the  set  of  special  sug¬ 
gestions  for  leaders,  for  the  text  books  they  are 
to  use,  and  other  helps  furnished  by  the  Student 
Volunteer  Movement.  It  is  well  not  to  change 
leaders  until  a  course  is  finished. 

3.  The  Missionary  Library. 

Each  Association  should  either  have  a  carefully 
selected  collection  of  missionary  literature  of  its 
own  or  see  that  such  a  collection  is  secured  and 
kept  by  the  college. 

(1)  Its  importance. 

(a)  To  insure  interesting,  profitable  and  pro¬ 
gressive  meetings  it  is  absolutely  essential  that 
those  who  are  to  participate  shall  have  access  to 
the  best  material. 


19 


(6)  There  are  striking  examples  to  show  that 
a  good  alcove  of  missionary  books  is  a  great  help 
to  students  in  determining  aright  their  Jife- work. 
Biographical  works  are  particularly  useful  in  this 
respect. 

(c)  Those  who  are  to  devote  their  lives  to  mis¬ 
sion  work,  either  at  home  or  abroad,  should  have 
near  at  hand  as  complete  a  collection  of  mission¬ 
ary  literature  as  possible,  to  enable  them  to 
secure  a  better  preparation  for  their  life-work. 

( d )  The  best  modern  home  and  foreign  mis¬ 
sionary  books  should  be  in  the  college,  if  in  any 
place  in  the  world,  in  order  that  students,  who 
are  to  hold  such  responsible  positions  in  after  life, 
may,  before  graduation,  become  intelligent  con¬ 
cerning  the  great  work  and  problems  which  con¬ 
front  the  Church  in  their  generation. 

( e )  The  literature  of  missions  is  becoming  so 
extensive,  and  its  importance  is  so  prominently 
recognized,  that  an  Association  or  college  library 
is  sadly  deficient  which  has  neglected  this 
department. 

(2)  Where  the  library  should  be  located. 

If  the  Association  has  a  home  of  its  own,  either 
a  building  or  rooms  which  are  accessible  and 
pleasant,  the  books  should  be  located  there. 
Otherwise  it  should  be  in  the  regular  college 
library.  Even  where  the  Association  has  its  own 
home  it  may  sometimes  be  best  to  have  its  books 
in  connection  with  the  college  library.  In  any 
case  they  should  be  kept  together,  and  the  collec¬ 
tion  should  be  designated  “Missionary  Litera¬ 
ture.”  Avoid  having  these  books  located  where 
they  will  not  be  seen  by  many  students.  Should 
it  be  impracticable  to  have  the  books  bearing  on 
missions  in  the  college  library  placed  together,  a 
list  of  them  might  be  prepared  and  kept  in  some 
accessible  place.  Better  still,  a  list  might 
be  printed  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  each 
member. 

(3)  What  the  library  should  include. 

(a)  Missionary  books.  In  general  it  may  be 


20 


stated  that  this  collection  should  include  a  mission¬ 
ary  encyclopedia,  a  missionary  atlas,  general  his¬ 
tories  of  missions,  works  showing  the  power  and 
fruitfulness  of  missions  (city,  home  and  foreign), 
missionary  conference  and  convention  reports, 
books  on  the  different  religions  of  the  world, 
standard  works  on  different  home  and  foreign 
fields,  treatises  on  the  different  phases  of  mission¬ 
ary  work,  the  best  biographies  of  leading  mission¬ 
aries  and  other  Christian  workers.  The  leading 
works  in  geography,  anthropology  and  sociology 
will  also  prove  valuable  in  connection  with  mission 
study  class  work.  All  these  classes  of  books  may 
not  be  represented  at  first,  but  the  aim  should  be 
to  make  the  collection  as  comprehensive  as  possi¬ 
ble  at  the  beginning,  and  add  to  it  frequently. 

( b )  Some  of  the  very  best  literature  extant  is 
in  the  form  of  booklets  and  tracts.  The  mission¬ 
ary  committee  may  well  take  the  time  and  trouble 
to  explore  this  field.  Tracts  and  leaflets  bearing 
on  the  same  subject  should  be  bound  together,  or 
grouped  in  strong  manila  envelopes  or  in  regular 
library  pamphlet  boxes,  and  then  indexed.  The 
collection  should  include  all  the  pamphlets  and 
leaflets  of  the  Student  Volunteer  Movement  and 
of  the  World’s  Student  Christian  Federation. 

(c)  There  should  be  in  each  institution  files 
as  nearly  complete  as  possible  of  The  Student 
Volunteer ,  The  Intercollegian  and  The  Missionary 
Review  of  the  World.  The  first  two  contain  not 
only  hints  on  missionary  study  and  outlines  of 
missionary  meetings,  but  also  more  practical  hints 
on  awakening  and  developing  missionary  interest 
among  students  than  any  other  periodicals.  The 
third  affords  the  broadest  survey  of  the  world 
field  and  gives  the  best  account  of  the  progress 
of  the  missionary  enterprise  as  a  whole.  In  addi¬ 
tion  to  these  periodicals  there  should  be  on  file 
Foreign  Mail ,  which  sets  forth  the  progress  of  the 
Association  movement  in  mission  lands,  The  Stu¬ 
dent  World,  which  is  the  organ  of  the  World’s  Stu¬ 
dent  Christian  Federation,  and  also  the  missionary 


21 


papers  of  the  denominations  most  prominent  in 
the  institution.  A  list  of  these  may  be  obtained 
from  the  Student  V olunteer  Movement.  Wherever 
there  are  students  who  expect  to  enter  the  medi¬ 
cal  profession,  one  or  more  medical  missionary 
journals  should  be  taken.  All  these  papers 
should  be  bound  at  the  close  of  each  year. 

The  Student  Volunteer  Movement  will  gladly 
supply  information  as  to  the  names  of  missionary 
periodicals,  prices,  addresses  of  publishers,  etc. 

( d )  An  effort  should  be  made  in  each  institu¬ 
tion  to  secure  a  choice  collection  of  missionary 
charts  and  maps.  They  should  be  so  mounted  as 
to  make  possible  ready  consultation  and  careful 
preservation.  The  missionary  committees  of  some 
Associations  have  prepared  many  original  charts, 
which  have  been  used  effectively  in  creating  mis¬ 
sionary  interest  and  strengthening  missionary 
impressions. 

Too  much  stress  cannot  be  laid  upon  the  impor¬ 
tance  of  keeping  missionary  literature  up  to  date. 
Libraries  which  were  abreast  of  the  times  a  few 
years  ago  are  not  so  now.  The  missionary  collec¬ 
tions  in  a  large  majority  of  our  colleges  are  de¬ 
ficient  in  this  respect.  It  is  equally  important  to 
have  the  maps  and  charts  up  to  date.  The  work 
is  brought  into  ridicule  by  using  inaccurate  maps 
and  charts. 

(4)  How  to  secure  the  literature. 

Before  undertaking  to  raise  money  let  the  mis¬ 
sionary  committee  be  authorized  to  make  out 
such  a  list  of  books  as  the  Association  should 
strive  to  secure  as  the  nucleus  of  the  library. 
Lists  and  suggestions  will  be  sent  by  the  Student 
Volunteer  Movement  to  any  committees  desiring 
them.  A  liberal  estimate  should  be  made  of  the 
number  of  books  to  be  secured.  Different  meth¬ 
ods  may  be  employed  to  obtain  them. 

(a)  Raise  by  subscription  the  required  amount 
among  the  students,  professors  and  friends  of  the 
institution.  One  volunteer  band  raised  over  $300 
in  a  short  time  by  this  plan. 


22 


( b )  Write  out  the  names  of  the  books  which  are 
to  be  obtained,  placing  the  price  opposite  the 
name  of  each  book  and  leaving  room  on  the  same 
line  for  a  person’s  name.  Circulate  this  list  among 
the  graduates,  students,  professors  and  friends  of 
the  institution,  having  each  person  designate  the 
book  or  books  which  he  will  place  in  the  collec¬ 
tion.  Classes,  societies  or  other  groups  of  students 
may  combine  to  secure  the  most  expensive  sets 
of  books.  By  this  plan  one  institution  in  Illinois, 
with  about  two  hundred  students,  raised  $185. 

(c)  It  is  believed  that  in  nearly  every  student 
community  some  friend  of  the  Association  would 
count  it  a  privilege  to  found  a  missionary  library, 
if  its  special  need  and  importance  were  rightly 
brought  to  his  attention. 

(d)  The  appropriation  might  be  made  for  this 
purpose  in  connection  with  the  regular  budget  of 
the  Association. 

( e )  In  many  instances  the  college  authorities 
have  been  influenced  to  make  an  appropriation 
from  the  library  fund  to  establish  a  collection  of 
missionary  books  in  the  college  library.  This 
was  done  recently  in  a  prominent  state  university. 
It  can  best  be  brought  about  by  interesting  the 
librarian  or  some  influential  professor. 

(/)  In  a  number  of  student  communities  the 
city  or  public  library  has  been  induced  to  obtain  a 
collection  of  missionary  literature.  The  state  li¬ 
braries  of  some  states  have  traveling  libraries  which 
contain  many  missionary  books. 

(5)  How  to  promote  the  use  of  missionary 
literature. 

(a)  The  collection  should  be  accessible  to  stu¬ 
dents  at  the  most  favorable  hours  in  the  week. 
Some  one  should  be  in  charge  at  these  regular 
hours  who  is  well  acquainted  with  the  material  and 
who  is  interested  in  having  it  used. 

(6)  Some  missionary  committees  and  bands 
have  a  special  subcommittee,  or  one  member, 
whose  business  it  is  to  see  that  the  books,  pam¬ 
phlets  and  periodicals  are  kept  in  circulation.  This 


23 


is  very  important.  Marked  chapters,  articles  or 
pages  should  be  brought  to  the  attention  of  stu¬ 
dents  by  the  members  of  this  committee.  They 
are  thus  interested  to  read  further.  Necessarily 
such  a  committee  must  exercise  great  tact.  A 
book  review  meeting  might  be  held  in  which  sev¬ 
eral  students  review  briefly  interesting  and  impor¬ 
tant  missionary  books,  the  leader  closing  with  an 
appeal  to  students  to  read  these  books. 

(c)  In  some  institutions  the  Association  has  a 
special  bulletin  on  which  the  missionary  commit¬ 
tee  places  from  week  to  week  an  announcement 
of  new  books,  of  strong  chapters  on  certain  sub¬ 
jects  in  old  books,  of  leading  articles  in  current 
periodicals,  and  brief  statements  of  striking,  recent 
missionary  events.  This  suggests  once  more  the 
need  of  keeping  the  collection  abreast  of  the  times. 
An  appropriation  should  be  made  by  the  Associa¬ 
tion  each  year  for  this  purpose. 

(d)  At  an  early  missionary  meeting  of  the  col¬ 
lege  year  there  should  be  a  short,  interesting  and 
suggestive  address  on  missionary  bibliography. 
Let  the  speaker  call  attention  to  the  literature  in 
the  library  in  a  way  that  will  interest  students  in 
exploring  it  and  which  will  give  direction  to  their 
reading.  At  the  subsequent  missionary  meetings 
it  may  be  well  for  the  leader  to  call  attention  to 
literature  that  will  enable  students  who  have  been 
specially  interested  to  follow  up  still  further  the 
topic  of  the  meeting. 

(. e )  The  missionary  committee  should  stimulate 
those  who  are  to  take  part  in  the  missionary  meet¬ 
ings  to  make  use  of  the  library  in  their  preparation. 

(/)  One  of  the  very  best  ways  of  promoting  the 
use  of  the  literature  is  for  the  members  of  the  com¬ 
mittee  and  the  leaders  of  the  meetings  to  prepare 
themselves  with  unusual  thoroughness  upon  the 
various  missionary  topics  which  come  before  the 
Association.  The  man  who  becomes  full  of  any 
subject  is  sure  to  stimulate  those  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact  with  a  desire  and  a  purpose 
to  know  more  about  it  themselves.  This  is 


24 


preeminently  true  of  such  a  living  and  inspiring 
subject  as  missions. 

(g)  A  table  of  missionary  literature  near  the 
door  in  the  room  where  the  meeting  is  held,  and  in 
charge  of  a  man  who  can  answer  questions  about 
the  literature  and  interest  students  in  it,  will  facili¬ 
tate  the  use  of  missionary  books  and  periodicals. 

( h )  Possibly  no  one  has  as  good  an  opportunity 
to  promote  the  use  of  missionary  literature  as  the 
leader  of  the  mission  study  class,  who  each  week, 
by  assigning  topics  for  investigation  and  by 
giving  definite  references  to  sources  of  information 
on  the  topics,  can,  during  one  or  two  terms, 
bring  the  entire  class  into  touch  with  a  wide 
range  of  missionary  literature. 

4.  Financial  Cooperation  with  Missions. 

(1)  Why  should  the  Association  promote  giv¬ 
ing  to  missions? 

(а)  It  is  the  duty  of  the  Christian  student  to 
give  to  missions  while  in  college  just  as  at  any  other 
time.  The  fact  that  he  has  entered  college  does 
not  relieve  him  of  this  responsibility.  Moreover, 
he  gives  to  many  other  objects,  some  of  which  are 
purely  secular.  Should  not  the  Association  em¬ 
phasize  the  fact  that  the  work  of  Christ  has  a 
larger  claim  on  his  money  than  has  any  other 
object? 

(б)  Many  students  have  never  been  led  to 
recognize  their  responsibility  to  give  to  missions. 
It  is  the  duty  of  the  Association  to  help  them  ac¬ 
quire  the  habit  of  systematic  and  proportionate  giv¬ 
ing  to  this  object.  When  we  reflect  on  the  influ¬ 
ence  which  they  are  to  exert  after  leaving  college, 
we  see  the  great  importance  of  emphasizing  this 
responsibility. 

( c )  As  a  means  of  broadening  its  horizon,  en¬ 
riching  its  sympathies  and  intensifying  its  life,  the 
Association  should  have  a  very  generous  part  in 
Christian  enterprises  beyond  its  own  immediate 
field. 


25 


(2)  Objects  to  which  the  Association  should 
give. 

(a)  Each  Association  should  make  regular  con¬ 
tributions  to  the  work  of  the  Foreign  Department 
of  the  International  Committee  of  Young  Men’s 
Christian  Associations,  which  is  seeking  to  extend 
the  Association  movement  among  the  young  men 
of  non-Christian  countries.  The  object  of  this 
work  is  to  help  evangelize  the  young  men  in  the 
colleges  and  universities  and  in  the  great  cities  of 
these  countries,  and  to  lead  them  to  recognize  their 
responsibility  to  evangelize  their  own  people. 
Association  secretaries  are  sent  out  only  in  response 
to  the  call  of  the  missionaries  of  the  denominational 
mission  boards  and  work  in  cooperation  with 
them. 

( b )  In  a  denominational  college  the  Association 
should  promote  generous  giving  to  the  missionary 
work  in  that  denomination  through  the  regular 
mission  boards.  It  may  be  deemed  advisable  to 
assume  all,  or  a  part,  of  the  support  of  a  mission¬ 
ary,  especially  of  some  alumnus.  By  thus  con- 
centratinga  greater  interest  is  awakened  and  larger 
amounts  given.  Scores  of  colleges  have  already 
done  this.  Generally  where  the  support  of  a  mis¬ 
sionary  has  been  undertaken  it  has  been  found 
necessary  for  the  Association  to  combine  with  the 
other  Christian  agencies  of  the  college,  or  to  make 
it  a  college  rather  than  a  distinctively  Association 
matter.  While  an  Association  should  be  careful 
not  to  assume  larger  responsibilities  than  it  is  able 
to  meet  from  year  to  year,  it  should,  on  the  other 
hand,  devise  liberal  things.  The  principal  benefits 
which  come  to  an  Association  from  carrying  finan¬ 
cial  responsbilities  come  through  hard  work,  sacri¬ 
fice  and  prayer. 

( c )  In  an  undenominational  or  state  institution 
the  Association  may  support  entirely  or  in  part 
one  of  the  foreign  Association  secretaries. 

Such  cooperation  as  is  practicable  should  be 
given  by  all  Associations  to  city  and  home  missions. 

A  general  principle  should  be  observed  by  all 


26 


Associations,  namely,  that  the  missionary  contri¬ 
butions  of  an  Association  should  not  be  so  large 
as  to  prevent  the  thorough  cultivation  of  its  own 
college  field,  or  hearty  cooperation  with  the 
State  and  International  Association  work.  The 
facts  show,  however,  that  there  is  comparatively 
little  danger  in  this  direction. 

(3)  Hints  on  raising  the  money. 

(а)  In  making  up  the  budget  for  the  year,  the 
Association  should  include  definite  items  for  the 
different  missionary  objects  to  which  it  wishes  to 
contribute.  These  should  not  be  determined  with¬ 
out  thorough  discussion  and  prayer.  The  mission¬ 
ary  committee  should  be  given  authority  to  in¬ 
crease  these  appropriations  in  case  they  are  willing 
to  assume  the  responsibility  of  raising  the  extra  sum 
without  interfering  with  securing  the  balance  of  the 
regular  Association  funds. 

(б)  The  missionary  fund  should  be  raised  by  a 
subcommittee  of  the  missionary  committee,  or  by 
a  special  committee  for  this  purpose. 

( c )  In  raising  the  money  a  double  object  should 
be  kept  in  mind ;  not  only  the  collection  of  so  much 
money  for  missions,  but  also  the  cultivation  of  right 
habits  of  giving.  Special  stress,  therefore,  should 
be  laid  upon  giving  systematically,  proportionate¬ 
ly,  intelligently  and  prayerfully.  It  would  be  a 
good  plan  to  have  one  of  the  regular  religious  meet¬ 
ings  in  the  early  part  of  each  year  devoted  to  set¬ 
ting  forth  the  scriptural  principles  of  giving. 

( d )  The  money  should  be  collected  regularly 
and  promptly  according  to  the  plan  best  adapted 
to  the  particular  institution. 

(e)  It  will  greatly  help  in  raising  missionary 
funds  if  there  be  prepared  and  circulated  a  printed 
card  or  leaflet  giving  a  concise  and  attractive  state¬ 
ment  of  the  objects  to  which  the  Association  is  to 
contribute  and  their  special  importance,  the  amount 
of  money  desired,  and  the  plan  proposed  for  raising 
it.  The  judicious  use  of  other  printed  matter  bear¬ 
ing  on  these  objects  will  also  be  helpful. 

(/)  If  there  is  a  Young  Women’s  Christian 


27 


Association  in  the  college  it  may  sometimes  be 
thought  advisable  to  have  a  joint  policy  in  the  mat¬ 
ter  of  missionary  giving. 

(g)  The  circulation  of  suitable  literature  bear¬ 
ing  on  the  subject  of  giving  will  be  of  great  service 
in  enlisting  the  financial  cooperation  of  students 
and  in  developing  proper  habits  of  giving.  Among 
the  most  helpful  pamphlets  on  this  subject  are, 
“Money,  its  Nature  and  Power,”  “The  Oppor¬ 
tunity  of  the  Hour”  and  “Scripture  Principles 
of  Giving  Illustrated.” 

5.  Prayer  for  Missions. 

(1)  The  obligation. 

There  is  no  duty  more  imperative  than  that  of 
prayer  for  missions.  And  yet  there  is  probably  no 
duty  more  neglected.  A  revival  of  prayer  is  the 
most  fundamental  need  in  missions  at  the  present 
time.  On  it  hinges  everything :  the  raising  up  and 
equipping  of  laborers,  the  supplying  of  funds,  the 
sending  forth  of  laborors,  and  their  spiritual  suc¬ 
cess  in  the  field. 

(2)  Hints  on  promoting  prayer  for  missions. 

(а)  Circulate  among  Christian  students  the 
pamphlets,  “Prayer  and  Missions,”  “  Prayer  for 
Missions”  and  “Intercessory  Foreign  Mission¬ 
aries.  ’  ’  They  should  also  be  urged  to  read  with  the 
greatest  care  Andrew  Murray’s  books,  “With 
Christ  in  the  School  of  Prayer,”  “The  Ministry 
of  Intercession”  and  “The  Key  to  the  Mission¬ 
ary  Problem. 

(б)  Let  the  Association  observe  the  Universal 
Day  of  Prayer  for  Students  and  also  give  promi¬ 
nence  to  Missions  during  the  Week  of  Prayer  for 
Young  Men  and  on  the  denominational  Day  of 
Prayer  for  Colleges. 

(c)  Let  the  missionary  committee,  by  wise  per¬ 
sonal  work,  seek  to  increase  the  number  of  students 
who  will  set  apart  a  regular  time  each  day  to  pray 
for  missions.  A  large  number  of  students  have 
adopted  for  this  purpose  the  “morning  watch.” 
Others  have  set  apart  a  different  hour. 


28 


( d )  Emphasize  the  importance  of  each  student 
having  a  prayer  schedule  or  cycle,  that  is,  a  plan 
by  which  definite  objects  are  remembered  in  prayer 
at  stated  times.  The  “Prayer  Cycle,”  published 
by  the  Student  Volunteer  Movement,  will  be 
suggestive  and  very  helpful. 


29 


STUDENT  VOLUNTEER  MOVEMENT 
PUBLICATIONS 


124  East  28th  Street,  New  York 

Prayer  and  Missions.  By  Robert  E.  Speer.  5  cents. 

The  Volunteer  Band.  By  D.  Willard  Lyon.  5  cents. 

The  Volunteer  Declaration.  By  D.  Willard  Lyon.  5 
cents. 

The  Supreme  Decision  of  the  Christian  Student.  By 

George  Sherwood  Eddy.  5  cents. 

The  Opportunity  of  the  Hour;  or,  Christian  Stewardship. 

By  George  Sherwood  Eddy.  5  cents. 

Money:  Its  Nature  and  Power.  By  Rev.  A.  F.  Schauffler, 
D.D.  5  cents. 

The  Cycle  of  Prayer  of  the  Student  Volunteer  Move¬ 
ment  for  Foreign  Missions.  5  cents. 

Why  Study  Missions?  Leaflet.  By  F.  P.  Turner.  5  cents 
per  dozen. 

What  Constitutes  a  Missionary  Call?  By  Robert  E. 
Speer.  5  cents. 

A  Doctor’s  Reasons  for  Going  to  China.  Leaflet.  By 
Cyril  H.  Haas,  M.D.  10  cents  per  dozen. 

General  Suggestions  for  Leaders  of  Mission  Study 
Classes.  T.  H.  P.  Sailer,  Ph.D.  5  cents. 

Home  Ties  and  the  Foreign  Mission  Field.  By  S.  M. 

Zwemer,  D.D.  3  cents. 

How  Shall  They  Hear?  Leaflet.  Statistical.  10  cents 
per  dozen. 

“If  God  Permit.”  A  Word  to  Detained  Volunteers.  By 

F.  S.  Brockman.  3  cents. 

Intercessory  Foreign  Missionaries.  By  Rev.  Alfred 
Street.  3  cents. 

Is  Mission  Study  Worth  While?  By  J.  Lovell  Murray. 
3  cents. 

The  Morning  Watch.  By  John  R.  Mott,  M.A.,  F.R.G.S. 
5  cents. 

The  Non-Christian  Religions  Inadequate  to  Meet  the 
Needs  of  Men.  By  Robert  E.  Speer.  5  cents. 

Prayer  for  Missions.  By  Professor  Gustav  Warneck,  D.D., 
of  Halle  University.  5  cents. 

Scripture  Principles  of  Giving  Illustrated.  By  Rev.  Pre¬ 
bendary  Fox,  A.M.  5  cents. 

Secret  Prayer  a  Great  Reality.  By  Rev.  Henry  Wright, 
M.A.  5  cents. 

Spiritual  Prerequisites.  By  Donald  Fraser.  5  cents. 


30 


The  Value  of  a  Purpose.  By  Margaret  A.  Bretherton. 

3  cents. 

The  Watchword  a«  a  Spiritual  Force.  By  John  R.  Mott, 
M.A.,  F.R.G.S.  5  cents. 

What  is  Involved  in  Mission  Study.  By  James  L.  Barton, 
D.D.  5  cents. 

Organization  of  Mission  Study  Among  Students.  By  J. 

Lovell  Murray.  5  cents. 

Comparative  Studies  in  Missionary  Biography.  A  scheme 
for  the  study  of  missionary  biography,  which  has 
been  used  with  great  success  in  the  universities  of 
Great  Britain.  This  pamphlet  has  been  prepared  to 
meet  the  needs  of  the  students  of  the  United  States 
and  Canada.  5  cents. 

Benefits  Derived  from  Mission  Study.  Compiled  by  J. 
Lovell  Murray.  2  cents. 

Hints  on  Mission  Study  Class  Methods.  By  Dorothea 
Day.  3  cents. 


Geography  and  Atlas  and  Missionary  Maps 

A  Geography  and  Atlas  of  Protestant  Missions.  By 

Harlan  P.  Beach,  M.A.,  F.R.G.S.  Two  volumes,  cloth 
bound.  Net  price,  postpaid,  $4.00  per  set.  Sold  only 
insets.  Volume  I.,  571  pages.  Volume  II.,  54  pages, 
18  double-page  maps. 

Missionary  Map  of  the  World.  Large  size  (6x12  feet). 
Printed  in  oil  colors  on  fine  cloth.  $3.00. 

Map  of  Prevailing  Religions  of  the  World,  with  leading 
Mission  Stations.  Small  size  (15x27  inches).  Fine 
cloth.  40  cents. 

List  of  Mission  Study  Text-books  of  the  Student  Vol¬ 
unteer  Movement  sent  free  on  application. 


The  Intercollegian.  An  illustrated  periodical  for  stu¬ 
dents  interested  in  Christian  work  at  home  and  in 
mission  lands.  It  discusses  methods  of  work,  gives 
news  of  the  world-wide  student  movement,  contains 
articles  on  personal  religious  life,  shows  opportunities 
for  life  service,  reviews  current  literature  bearing  on 
the  moral  and  religious  life  of  the  student  class. 
Published  monthly  during  the  academic  year  jointly 
by  the  Student  Department  of  the  International  Com¬ 
mittee  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association  and 
the  Student  Volunteer  Movement  for  Foreign  Mis¬ 
sions.  Subscription  price  in  advance,  50  cents;  foreign 
countries.  70  cents. 


31 


YOUNG  MEN’S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION 
PRESS  PUBLICATIONS 

124  East  28th  Street,  New  York 


Student  Pamphlets 

The  Bible  Study  Department  of  the  Student  Association. 

J.  R.  Mott,  Second  revision.  5  cents. 

Work  for  New  Students.  J.  R.  Mott.  Second  revision. 
5  cents. 

The  Missionary  Department  of  the  Student  Association. 

J.  R.  Mott.  Third  revision.  5  cents. 

The  Secret  Prayer  Life.  J.  R.  Mott.  Also  issued  by 
the  British  College  Christian  Union.  5  cents. 

Bible  Study  for  Spiritual  Growth.  J.  R.  Mott.  Also 
issued  by  the  British  College  Christian  Union.  5 
cents. 

The  Student  General  Secretary.  C.  D.  Hurrey.  New. 
10  cents. 

Enlisting  Fraternity  Men.  F.  V.  Slack.  New.  10  cents. 


Two  New  Books  that  Build  Character,  Profoundly 
Thought  Out  and  Brilliantly  Written 

The  Second  Mile.  Harry  Emerson  Fosdick. 

More  Than  Men.  Charles  H.  Parkhurst. 

Beautifully  printed  on  rag  paper,  40  cents  each. 


32 


